• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.209-223
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• 2002

By considering the biological properties of a tumor, it should be possible to realize better results in cancer therapy. PET imaging offers the opportunity to measure tumor growth non-invasively and repeatedly as an early assessment of response to cancer therapy. Measuring cellular growth instead of energy metabolism showed offer significant advantages in evaluating therapy. Thymidine and its derivative nucleoside compounds can be changed to mono, di- and tri- phosphate compounds by thymidine kinase and then be incorporated into DNA. Their bindings are increased in highly proliferating cells due to the high DNA synthesis rate. To evaluate cell proliferation, many kinds of thymidine and uridine derivatives have been labeled with positron emitter and radioactive iodine. Compared to radiopharmaceuticals which have radioisotope labeled base ring such as pyirmidine, the radiopharmacuticals which have radioisotope labeled sugar ring are more stable in vivo and have metabolic resistance. The biological properties such as DNA incorporation ratios are highly dependent on their chemical structures and metabolic processes. This overview describes synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals and their biological properties for imaging of tumor cell proliferation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.1355-1363
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• 2018

Many radionuclides exist in normal environment and artificial radionuclides also can be detected. The radionuclides ($^{131}I$) are widely used for labeling compounds and radiation therapy. In Korea, the radionuclide ($^{131}I$) is produced at the Radioisotope Production Facility (RIPF) at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejeon. The residents around the RIPF assume that $^{131}I$ detected in environmental samples is produced from RIPF. To ensure the safety of the residents, the radioactive concentration of $^{131}I$ near the RIPF was investigated by monitoring environmental samples along the Gap River. The selected geographical places are near the nuclear installation, another possible location for $^{131}I$ detection, and downstream of the Gap River. The first selected places are the "front gate of KAERI", and the "Donghwa bridge". The second selected place is the sewage treatment plant. Therefore, the Wonchon bridge is selected for the upstream of the plant and the sewage treatment plant is selected for the downstream of the plant. The last selected places are the downstream where the two paths converged, which is Yongshin bridge (in front of the cogeneration plant). In these places, environmental samples, including sediment, fish, surface water, and aquatic plants, were collected. In this study, the radioactive iodine ($^{131}I$) detection along the Gap River will be investigated.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2011

In this study, an Ag-polyaniline-silica (Ag-PANI-silica) nanoparticle was evaluated as a radioisotope carrier. An Ag-PANI-silica nanoparticle was incubated in the $^{125}I$ solution for a duration of 24 hr to test its radioisotope absorptivity. During the incubation, radioactivity of the nanoparticle was measured at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hr. After a 24 hr incubation, $^{125}I$-Ag-PANI-silica nanoparticle was incubated in a fresh saline for a duration of 48 hr to check its stability. Additionally, the $^{125}I$-Ag-PANI-silica nanoparticle was injected to the ICR mouse to investigate its in-vivo distribution characteristics. The $^{125}I$ absorption yield of the Ag-PANI-silica nanoparticle was higher than 95% after a 6 hr incubation period in the $^{125}I$ solution. And $^{125}I$-Ag-PANI-silica was stable for 48 hr at 80% yield at room temperature. The SPECT/CT image of a mouse that received $^{125}I$-Ag-PANI-silica complex showed that the $^{125}I$-Ag-PANI-silica complex was distributed in the lung, stomach and thyroid at 30 min post injection. From these results, the Ag-PANI-silica nanoparticle has good radio-iodine carrying property and can be applicable for the purpose of diagnosis and therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 1967

Over the past 6 years, from May 1960 to June 1966, 1,716 patients with various diseases of thyroid were examined and thyroid function tests with $^{131}I$ were done. Among them, 545 patients with hyperthyroidism were treated with $^{131}I$. A summary of the clinical data of the $^{131}I$-thyroid function tests and the therapeutic results of $^{131}I$ were presented and discussed. 1. The patients examined consisted of; 596 cases(34.7%) with toxic diffuse goiter, 412 cases(24.0%) with non-toxic nodular goiter, 278 cases(16.2%) with euthyroidism, 236 cases(13.8%) with non-toxic diffuse goiter, 89 cases(5.2%) with hypothyroidism, 53 cases(3.1%) with toxic nodular goiter, 32 cases(1.9%) with thyroiditis and 20 cases(1.2%) with dyshormonogenesis. 2. There were 218(12.7%) male patients and 1,498(87.3%) female patients, showing a ratio of 1:6.9. female predominantly. 3. The majority of patients(79.6%) were in the 3rd through 5th decades of their lives showing the peak in the 4th decades(35.9%). 4. The diagnostic values and normal ranges of $^{131}I$ uptake test, 48 hour serum activity, $T_3$ red blood cell uptake and $PB^{131}I$ conversion ratio were discussed. 5. An attention was given to dyshormonogenesis, a qualitative hypothyroidism, due to its characteristic findings of clinical and $^{131}I$ thyroid function tests, and its pathogenesis was briefly reviewed. 6. Among 545 patients with hyperthyroidism treated with $^{131}I$, 68.3% was cured after single. therapeutic dose and another 24.0% was cured after second dose. 7. The complications of $^{131}I$ therapy were discussed in some details and myxedema had developed. in 3.9% of our cases. No thyroid cancer was found after $^{131}I$ therapy.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2017

The combination of nanoparticle with radioisotope could give the in vivo information with high sensitivity and specificity. However, radioisotope labeling of nanoparticle is very difficult and radioisotopes have different physicochemical properties, so the radioisotope selection of nanoparticle should be carefully considered. $^{18}F$ was first option to be considered for labeling of nanoparticle. For the labeling of $^{18}F$ with nanoparticle, Prosthetic group is widely used. Iodine, another radioactive halogen, is often used. Since radioiodine isotopes are various, they can be used for different imaging technique or therapy in the same labeling procedures. $^{99m}Tc$ can easily be obtained as pertechnatate ($^{99m}{TcO_4}^-$) by commercial generator. Ionic $^{68}Ga$ (III) in dilute HCl solution is also obtained by generator system, but $^{68}Ga$ can be substituted for $^{67}Ga$ because of the short half-life (67.8 min). $^{64}Cu$ emits not only positron but also ${\beta}-particle$. Therefore $^{64}Cu$ can be used for imaging and therapy at the same time. These radioactive metals can be labeled with nanoparticle using the bifunctional chelator. $^{89}Zr$ has longer half-life (78.4 h) and is used for the longer imaging time. Unlike different metals, $^{89}Zr$ should use the other chelate such as DFO, 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) or DFOB.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.350-358
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• 2007

Purpose: Localizing and differentiating a metastatic lesion of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) by using radio iodine whole body scan could be difficult because a whole body scan (WBS) lacks anatomic information. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of radio-iodine SPECT/CT for differentiating equivocal lesions. Materials & Methods: Among 253 patients with DTC who had undergone radio-iodine scan between February and July 2006, 26 patients were enrolled (M:F = 8:18, Age $50.7{\pm}12.5$ years) in this study. The patients had abnormal uptakes in the WBSs that necessitated precise anatomical localization for differentiating between a metastatic lesion and a false-positive lesion. SPECT/CT was performed for the region with abnormal uptake in the WBS. WBS and SPECT/CT were evaluated visually. Metastases were diagnosed based on the results of the radio-iodine scan along with the results of other radiological examinations and serological tests. Results: Based on the WBS images, 13 were suspected with cervical lymph node (LN) metastases in 16 patients with abnormal neck uptake, and in the 11 patients with abnormal extra-cervical uptakes, extra-cervical metastases were doubtful in all. After SPECT/CT was performed, the diagnostic results were altered for 16 patients (62%). SPECT/CT revealed that only 5 patients had cervical LN metastases, while 3 patients had extra-cervical (mediastinal) LN metastases. Overall, there was a 58% (15/26) change in diagnoses and plans for treatment due to SPECT/CT. Among 8 patients suspected with metastases on SPECT/CT, 6 patients underwent another radio-iodine therapy. In 96% (24/25) of the patients, the results of SPECT/CT corresponded with those of further radiological examinations and with other clinical information. Conclusion: Radio-iodine SPECT/CT images permitted the differentiation of abnormal radio-iodine uptake and improved anatomical interpretation in DTC.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 1986

An iodized oil such as Ethiodol or Lipiodol was selectively retained in the tumor vessels of the large hepatomas as well as in the small daughter hepatomas for long periods following the intra-arterial hepatic injection of such contrast material. The specific aim of the study is to deliver a high internal radiation dose to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in an attempt to control the disease. We were able to replace a small fraction of the stable iodine (I-127) of the 37% iodine in Lipiodol by the $I^{-131}$ with 100% exchange efficiency. $I^{-131}$ labeled Lipiodol was injected through the super-selected tumor feeding artery under superselection or into the proper hepatic arterial level of patients who have malignant hepatomas confirmed by aspiration cytology serum AFP and various imaging modalities. Clinical traial was performed on 43 cases during recent 6 months and follow-up observation was carried out. No severe complications or other adverse reactions were encountered until nowdays. $I^{-131}-Lipiodol$ was stable in vivo and no significant activity was noted in the thyroid, stomach, blood and urine after the injection. Only small fraction of radioisotope activity was noticed in the both side of lungs. Tumor to normal liver radio was very high. Therefore, $I^{-131}-Lipiodol$ (or P-32-Lipiodol) will be effective delivering high internal radiation dose to the tumor while delivering small radiation doses to normal tissues. Labeling, tumor dose calculation and preliminary findings will be presented.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.17-22
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• 1969

The differences in the change of the uptake rate of radioactive iodine ($^{131}I$) in the thyroid gland after $Tapazole^{(R)}$ administration before $^{131}I$ treatment were analysed in 137 patients who were diagnosed as diffuse toxic goiter in the Radioisotope Clinic and Laboratory, Seoul National University Hospital since Jan. 1967 to July, 1969. The uptake rate of the therapeutic dose of $^{131}I$ was changed diffusely compared with that of the trace dose in the patients who had no $Tapazole^{(R)}$ administration before $^{131}I$ treatment. In those patients who had $Tapazole^{(R)}$ more than 20 mg/day for more than one week before $^{131}I$ treatment, the uptake rate was decreased significantly. When the patients discontinued the administration of $Tapazole^{(R)}$ 7 days prior to $^{131}I$ treatment, the uptake rate was increased in all cases.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.637-643
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• 2018

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is a therapy that takes advantage of the "cross-fire" effect of emitted radiation by radionuclides conjugated to tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies (mAb) (including those fragments) or peptides. While RIT has been successfully employed for the treatment of lymphoma, mostly with radiolabeled antibodies against CD20 [$^{90}yttrium$ ($^{90}Y$)-ibritumomab tiuxetan; $Zevalin^{(R)}$ and $^{131}iodine$ ($^{131}I)-tositumomab$; $Bexxar^{(R)}$], its use in solid tumors is more challenging, so far. Immuno-PET, a tool for tracking and quantification of mAbs with PET in vivo, is an exciting novel option to improve diagnostic imaging and guide mAb-based therapy. RIT in solid tumors including head and neck cancer may be an alternative treatment with advances in various biological, chemical, and treatment procedures, and it may help to reduce unnecessary exposure and enhance the therapeutic efficacy. Also, immuno-PET based on RIT might play an important role in cancer staging, in patients or targets selection of targeted therapeutics and in monitoring the response of targeted therapeutics as precision medicine. In this review, fundamentals of RIT/immune-PET and current knowledge of the preclinical/clinical trials in RIT for solid tumor including head and neck cancer are reviewed.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 2022

Theranostics, a composite word of therapy and diagnosis, is known as personalized medicine and the concept of diagnosis and treatment at the same time. In nuclear medicine, it means performing both therapeutic and diagnostic radioisotope therapy using the same target molecule. The increased production and utilization of ⁶⁴Cu opens a new era of theranostics. The studies introduced here have shown that ⁶⁴CuCl₂ and various compounds or biomolecules labeled with ⁶⁴Cu are unique radiopharmaceuticals with physiological properties suitable for use as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. So far, these two abilities have been described only for radioactive iodine. Although ⁶⁴Cu has complex chemical properties compared to other PET radioisotopes such as ⁶⁸Ga, it has an appropriate half-life and enables high-quality PET images similar to ¹⁸F, which is an advantage in terms of diagnosis. In addition, since it also has therapeutic properties through the release of β^- particles and Auger electrons by electron capture, radiopharmaceuticals using ⁶⁴Cu stand for innovative radiopharmaceuticals for theranostic purposes. Therefore, based on the initial results obtained using ⁶⁴Cu as a therapeutic agent, it is expected that additional research on the application of ⁶⁴Cu will lead to a new era in the theranostics field.